Apparatus for treating soap



Oct. 4, 1932 .J. A. SCHWANTES APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOAP 7 Sheetsfiheet l Filed March 13. 1

dummy 6 1932- J. A. SCHWANTES APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOAP Filed March 13, 1931 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Get. 4, 1932. J. A. SCHWANTES APPARATUS FOR TREATiNG SOAP Filed March 13, 1931 7 Sheets-$heet 3 Oct. 4, 1932. .J, A. SCHWANTES 1,830,500

APPARATUS FOR TREATINGSOAP "Filed March 15, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 m m llll Q2 him 3H2 lllh Oct. 4, 1932. Q J. A. SCHWANTES 1,330,500

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOAP Filed March 15, 1931 '7 SheetsSheet 5 1932 J. A. SCHWANTES APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOAP Filed MarchlfS, 1951 7 SheetsSheet 6 m n W M Oct. 4, 1932. J. A. SCHWANTES 1,8805% APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOAP Filed March 13, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 particularly defined Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JULIUS A. SCHWANTES, OF WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO COLGATE-PALM- OLIVE-PEET COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOAP The invention relates to apparatus for forming markings in soap.

It is usual in the manufacture of soap to impress by either taglio or intaglio impression, distinctive markings, such as names or designs on the face or faces of the soap cake. These markings soon wear off after the soap cake has been in use for a brief period.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for forming a cavity or cavities in the soap cake conforming to the distinctive marking to be displayed and the filling of the cavity or the cavities with a filler substance, such as soap having a different characteristic or grain from that of the remainder of the cake, which will wear down as the cake is used up and wherein the soap cake may be treated by automatically opcrating mechanism to form the cavity or cavities and insert the filler substance therein accurately and expeditiously. More particularly, the various operations to which the soap is subjected are carried out while the soap is moving on a rotary conveyor and the finished cake delivered within a single revolution of the conveyor.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation View of an apparatus embodying the invention, 'parts being broken away and parts being shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is' a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of one of the dies;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4;

F ig.'8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1l11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 2;

Fig: 14 is a detail sectional view taken on the line Lie-14 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view through the rotary carrier;

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 4;

17 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1717 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 18 is a detail front view of an agitating and feeding member, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section;

Fig. 19 is a section taken on the broken line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2020 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the marked cake of soap;

Fig. 22 is a front view of the nozzle;

Fig. 23 is a detail sectional view taken on the broken line 23-23 of 22.

Referring to the drawings, and to Figs. 1 and 15, a general description of certain of the parts and cycle of operations of the apparatus will first be given for a more ready understanding of the invention. In these .figurcs, the numeral 24 designates an intermittently rotated rotary conveyor or carrier having cavities 25 formed therein and providing stations A, B, C, D. E, F, G, H. At the station A, the soap to be treated is introduced either in the form of a previously formed cake or as hereinafter described formed into a cake S. Between the stations A i and D, the carrier runs over a backing or bottom plate 26. Stations B, F and H are dwell stations. At station C the soap cake S is subjected to the action of a die or dies 1 formed of one or more parts having a configuration of the character of the distinctive marking it is desired to have appear in the soap and for this purpose the parts of the die may be formed in letters, characters, symbols or designs. .At this station, the die is forced into the cake of soap to form one or more cavities J therein, the cavities in the soap shown in the drawings being made in accordanceawith the configuration of the die which, for exam le, in the present instance is formed to provi e'impressions corresponding to the letters 0. K., thedie parts bein so formed as shown in Fig. 16. At station a filler substance J such as soap having the same or a different characteristic from that of the cake and which has been previously delivered from a hopper L to a female die memher M having a slot or slots 27 formed therein corresponding in outline to the configuration of the die or dies 1' and hence the cavity or cavities previously formed in the soap cake, said filler is forced from said die member M into the cavity or cavities J in the soap cake 1 p by a die or dies N similar to the die I. At

station E the soap may be acted upon by a pair of finishing dies P and R and at station- G the finished cake is discharged from the carrier onto a delivery conveyor T.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 28 designates generally the main framework of the machine supported on suitable legs or uprights 28' and 29, the main ower take-off shaft journalled in bearings 29 suitably supported by rods 30 below the main frame and carrying sprockets 31, 32, and 33. The s rocket 31 is adapted to be connected by a c ain 34 to any suitable source of power. Sprocket .32 is connected by a chain 35 to a sprocket 36' on one of .the parts of a lay s aft 37 and sprocket 33 is connected b a chain 38 to a sprocket 39 on a shaft 40; he shaft 37 is connected by a double chain and sprocket drive including sprockets 41 on said' 5 aft, chains 42 and sprockets 43 on a'shaft 44 to said last named shaft. A Geneva toothed gearing connects the shaft 44 with a shaft 45 carrying a gear 46 meshing with a gear 47 mounted on a carrier drive shaft 48. The shaft 37 is journalled in suitable bearing brackets 37' mounted on the main frame, the'shafts 44 and 45 are journalled in suitable bearings provided in the spaced brackets 38' and 39' while the shaft 48 is .rotation which is transmitted through the gears 46 and 47 to the carrier shaft 48.

The carrier 24 is in the form of a drum bolted to the flanged end of the shaft 48 and after described alon with other parts of the;

mechanism to with raw the plate 26 from the interior of the carrier when desired.

It has been pointed out that at station A of the carrier either a previously formed soap cake may be deposited in the cavity 25 then presented on the cake may be formed therein and mechanism has been here shown for the latter purpose and is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 wherein the numeral 49 designates an outlet conduit or nozzle designed for attachment or use in conjunction with a suita-.

ble plodder mechanism and into which nozzle the soap is forced by the feed screw or screws of the plodder under pressure. As the soap is forced through this nozzle 49 it is acted upon by a pair of pusher cams 50 mounted on oscillatory shafts 51 carrying intermeshing gears 52 and one of the shafts being oscillated by its adjustable connection through a crank arm 53 on it to one end of a connecting rod 54 operatively and adjustably connected at 55 to one of a series of radiall s aced pin receivin openings 56 in a crank disk 57, on the sha t 40. The pusher members or cams 50 are for the urpose of quickly forcing the soap ahead at t e time the carrier 24 is at rest and when receding they stop the movement of the soap at outlet of the plodder nozzle at the time the carrier is in motion. The front end of the nozzle 49 is formed by a jacketed chamber 58 through the jacket 59 of which a suitable heating medium may be circulated. A nozzle member 60 is adapted.

to fit within the recessed end of nozzle 49 and its front face 60' is curved to conform to the curvature of the carrier with the result that after the cavity 25 presented to it has been filled with soap and the carrier revolves to its next position the soap in the cavity is cut off from the soap in the nozzle 49 by the inter-. action of these interfitting surfaces. The member 60 is yieldingly held against the carrier by a series of sprin s- 61 mounted in recesses 62' and engaging ugs 63 on the mempier 620, one of the springs being shown in his method and apparatus for forming a soap cake in a single 0 eration directly at the discharge of the plod er is in itself new ind is being made the subject matter of a separate application as it may be used irrespective of the marking of the soap as hereinafter described though it is also of great advantage in the present combination.

It has been noted that when the soap cake reaches the position'C, the die I is moved to make the cavity or cavities in the cake. For th s purpose the die I is secured to the lower reduced end of sliding rod 61 here shown as of square section mounted to slide in stationary uides 62, said rod having a rack 63 formed in it meshing with a gear 64 on a shaft 65 journalled in bearings on a bracket 66 also forming part of the guides 62, see Figs. 2 and 4. At its outer end, the-shaft 65 carries a crank arm 67 pivotally connected to a cam actuated rod 68, shown in detail in Fig. 11, having a forked lowered end 69 working over a bushing on the shaft 44 and carrying a roller 70 working in a grooved cam 71 on said shaft, this drive mechanism being timed to impart a single reciprocation to the die I as each soap cake is atrest under it. A stripper plate 72 having openings 72' therein conforming to the configuration of the male die I is yieldngly supported in'position adjacent the face of the carrierby rods 73 slidably mounted in guides 74 on the plunger or rod 61 and urged outwardly by springs 75, the die I moving relatively to said plate 72 and into the soap cake to provide the cavity or cavities in the cake to a depth of about half the thickness ofthe cake.

The hopper L has integrally formed side 76 and front end 77 connected by an angled extension 78 and bolts 79 to the bracket 39' and the die M is mounted in a movable bottom plate 80 whose lower surface is curved to conform to the curvature of the carrier as shown.

in Fig. 4 and the front end of the hopper is formed by a fixed plate 81, it being noted that the bottom plate 80 is free to oscillate between the carrier and the lower edges of the ends 77 and 81 of the hopper and between the sides 76 thereof and has a stepped front end portion 80' to assist in agitating the contents of the hopper. The bottom plate 80 is bolted to aportion of a ring shaped member 82 as shown in Fig. 5 and this member 82 is in itself mounted to turn or oscillate in an annular bearing element 83 secured by bolts 83 to the housing 41. Outside of the hopper the bottom member or plate 80 has a bracket or arm 84 secured to it and carrying a cam roller 85 working in a grooved cam 86 on the shaft 44 see Figs. 2 and 4.which actsto oscillate the bottom plate during the time the carrier is moving the cake from station 0 to station D.

vAs the filler substance such as soap in either chip, flake, granular, powdered or other form may not feed itself into the cavity or cavities formed by the slot 27 in the female die M, means have been provided for agitating the contents of the hopper and also exerting a feeding action into the die which are shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 18 to 20. It includes a pusher plate 87 mounted to slide between the sides of the hopper guides 87 and plate 81 and having a serrated face 88. A rack bar 89 is mounted in the upper recessed end of the plate 87 and is secured thereto for movement with and relative to said plate by a screw bolt 90 anchored to the plate and working in a slot 91 in the lower end of the rack and cooperating with a channel plate 92 to hold the rack in proper position, said bar having a cylindrical extension 89 working through a lug 93 on the plate 87. A spring 94 is interposed between the lug 93 and nuts 95 on said extension and normally holds the rack bar in an upper position though if too much resistance is encountered by the plate 87 on the downward movement of the rack, said rack may move relative to saidplate under the action of said sprin Thefrack 89 meshes. with a segmental rac gear 96 mounted on a shaft 97, as shown in Fig. 1, carries a crank arm 98 operatively connected by link 99with a crank arm 100 on a shaft 101 which, as shown in Fig. 10 carries a crank arm 102 provided with aroller 103 working in a grooved cam 104 from which the rack receives its reciprocatory movement during the time the carrier is advancing from station to station, said cam being mounted on in said bores between the upper ends thereof and the tops of said posts, said posts being prevented from any tendency toward rotation y cross pins working in slots 111 in said plate. The lower end of the plate 87 is recessed to receive the post 105 which is slidably mounted between said plate and a back guide late-112 secured to the plate 87 by screws 113. ith the above construction, if the pusher foot encounters too much resr' stance in its downward movement with the plate 87 it may yield relative to the plate 87 under the action of the springs 109 and during its downward movement said foot works in the space in the hopper between the plate 81 and the stopped position 80 of the bottom plate, it being noted that by stopping this part of the plate the filler substance will be trapped sufficiently so that the pusher foot 105 will be sure to have suflicient material to act up to force into the die M which has then moved to a position under said foot. Thus the movable die M is filled with the inserting material and then moves back tothe position shown in Fig. 4 as the next cake of soap "comes to its station D and thenthis filler substance is forced from the die M by the male die N into the previously formed cavity or cavities in the soap cake.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 7, the die Nis secured to a slide plate 114 which is slidably extension 120 working through a lug 121 on the plate 117 and surrounded by a spring 122 interposed between said lug and stop nuts 123 on said extension and is in mesh with a rack gear 124 mounted on a shaft 125, which as shown in Fig. 10, is provided with a crank arm 126 carrying a roller 127 working in the grooved cam 104 and timed to reciprocate bar 117, plate 114 and die N while the soap cake is at rest at station D.

In order to polish. and put a final finish on the soap cake, the next movement of the carrier brings the cake intothe position between the oppositely disposed dies P and R which are secured to the heads of plungers 128 and 129 that are operated by drive eccentrics or cranks from-the shaft 37.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 13, the plunger 128 has squared portions 128 slidably guided in relatively fixed guides 130 and secured by a clamping boss 131 on a block 132 to which a shaft or rod 133 is firmly secured. This shaft 133 is s'lidably mounted in relatively fixed bearing brackets 134 and is pivotally connected by a pin 135 to the forked end 136 of a rod 137 which is mounted in a guide 138 of a cap member 139 and has a headed end engaged by a spring 140 seated in said cap member which is secured to the big end bearing or eccentric strap 141 by bolts 142, said strap having a roller bearing journal 143 mounted on a crank or eccentric 144 formed on a part of the shaft 37. This construction thus provides a reciprocating drive movement for the die P, the spring 140 permitting a predetermined pressure to be impressed by the die on the soap cake. The drive for the plunger 129 is similar and such features as differ are shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 14 wherein itwill be noted that the plunger 129 has a squared portion 129' working in a relatively fixed guide 145 and provided with a pivot pin 146 connected to the forked end of a rod 147 which is slidably mounted in a 7 guide 148 secured to the eccentric strap 149 and is yieldingly connected thereto by a spring 150 interposed between a flange 147' on said rod and said strap, the rod and spring being operatively held in position-by a cap member 151 secured to said strap, this strap or big end bearing of the yieldablc connecting rod thus formed having a'journal bearing similar to the journal 143 and mounted on another crank portion 152 of the shaft 37 'to act to force the die It inwardly and through the spring 150 impart a predetermined pressure to the cake, the dies P and R acting conjointly under the action of their springsand drive for this purpose.

As the dies P and R may be of different contours for different sides of the cake, they are as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 attached to their plunger heads in different ways, it being noted that the slots 152 for the bolts 153 securing the die R to its plunger are different than the slots 154 for the bolts 155 securing the die P to its plunger.

The soapcake is now finished ready to be discharged from the machine and conveyed by the conveyor T to the wrapping mechanism. For discharging the finished cake from the carrier a push out plunger 156 is mounted to reciprocate at the discharge station G into and out of the cavity 25. Said plunger as shown in Fig. 4 is carried by a crank arm l57'on a shaft 158 and steadied by a pivotally supported guide link 159, the shaft 158 as shown in Fig. 1 carrying a crank arm 160 operativelyconnected to an eccentric or crank 161 on the shaft 37 by a long connecting rod 162.

It has been previously noted that it is desirable to gain access to the interior of the carrier at times as for example when the machine is being first charged, and consequently the supporting bracket 26 for the plate 26 is mounted on a bracket 163 which carries the bearings for theshaft 128, and 133, the shaft 158 and which is secured to a movable bed plate 164 which also carries the bearings 37 for the front section of the shaft 37, said shaft being divided into sections as shown in Fig. 2 by the toothed coupling members 165 so that it may be separated at this point when the bed plate 164 is moved forward. For moving said bed plate, it is provided on its bottom with suitable racks 166, not shown in detail, meshing with spaced gears 166' in a manually operated shaft 167 journalled in the main framework of the machine and provided with ,a hand wheel 168'and for realining the parts of the coupling members 165, the other shaft section is provided with a hand wheel 169..

It will also be noted from Figs. 4 to 6 that the female die member M is removably inset in the bottom plate member 80 and secured therein by screws 170.

As a general description of the method of operation of the apparatus and a detailed description of each of the operating mechanisms acting in conjunction with the carrier to perform the desired operations of the soap cake have been given further description 1s deemed unnecessary. Fig. 21 shows a perspective view of the finished soap cake in which the distinctive marking appears therein by the plastic insert material J that has been inserted into the cavities J formed by the die member I.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are included 1n the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an apparatus of he character described, the combination of a movable carrier, means for forming a cavity or cavltles of the desired configuration in a body of soap on said carrier in one position of said carrier, and means for filling said cavity or cavitieswith a filler substance in another position of said carrier. I p

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rec procatory die for forming a cavity or cavities of thedesired configuration in abody of soap, a -member provided with a cavity or cavitles conforming to the configuration of said first named die, meansfor' filling the cavity or cavities of said member with a filler substance, means for forcing said filler substance from the cavity or cavities of said member into the previously formed cavity or cavlties V in the body of soap and means for moving 1 said soap from a cavity 'forminglposition to a cavity filling position. r

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for forming a cavity or cavities of the desired configur'ationin a body of soap,-a movable member provided with a cavity or cavities conforming to those previously made in the soap, means for charging the cavity or cavities of said member with a filler substance, means for forcing said filler substance from the cavity or cavities of said member into the cavity or cavities previously formed in the soap,

and means for progressively moving the soap to a cavity forming position and thence to a cavity filling position.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for form ing a cavity or cavities of the desired configuration in a body of soap, ahopper for a filler substance, a member provided with a cavity or cavities conforming to those previously made in the soap and movable to a position to receive the filler substance from the hopper, means in said hopper for forcing filler substance into the cavity or cavities in said member, means for forcing said filler substance from the cavity or cavities of said member into the cavity or cavities previously formed in the soap, and means for moving the soap to a cavity-forming position and thence to a cavity-filling position.

5. In an apparatus of the character described. the combination of an intermittently movable rotary carrier, provided with soap 6 receiving cavities, means for successively charging said cavities with soap to form soap cakes therein, means for forming a cavity in each soap cake while on the carrier, means for inserting a filler substance into the cavities in the soap cakes while on the carrier, and

means for successively discharging the soap cakes from the carrier.

6.. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an intermittently movable rotary carrier provided with soap receiving cavities, means for successively charging said cavities with soap to form soap cakes therein, means for forming a cavity in each soap cake-while on the carrier, means for inserting a filler substance into the cavities in the soap cakes whileon the carrier, a pair of oppositely movable finishing dies for pressing the soap cakes on.- the carrier between them, and means for successively discharging the pressed soap cakes-from saidcarrier.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rotary car-rier provided with soap receiving cavities, means for forming a cavity in the soap in said cavities, means for filling said cavities in the soap, me ans for putting a finish on the soap while in the carrier, means for discharging the finished soap from thecarrier, and means for carrying the finished soap away from the apparatus. Y r

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination .of a rotatable cylindrical carrier provided with soap receiving cavities, a movable die for formmg cavities v in the soap in the carrier, a hopper for a filling substance, a movable bottom for said hopper mounted to oscillate over a portion of the carrier and provided withafemaledie conforming in outline to said first named die, means in the hopper for charging said female die with said filling substance,- and male die for forcingthe filler substance in the female die into the cavities previously formed in the soap;

9. In an apparatus of the character de-- scribed, the combination of a rotatable cylindrical carrier provided with soap receiving cavities,- a reciprocatory die for forming cavities in the soap in the carrier, a hopper for a filler substance, a movable bottom for said hopper mounted to oscillate over a portion of said carrier and provided-with a female die conforming in outline to said first named die, a reciprocatory pusher member in said hopper forforcing said filler substance into said' female die, and reciprocatory male die for forcing the filler substance in the female die into the cavities previously formed in the v soap.

10. In an-apparatus of the character described, the combination of a movable carrier rovided with soap receiving cavities, a reciprocatory die for forming cavities in the soap in the carrier, a hopper for a filler substance, a movable bottom for said hopper mounted over a portion of said carrier and provided wtih a female die portion conforming in outline to said first named die, multipact reciprocatory pusher member in said hopper for forcing said filler'substance into lllil Gil said female die, the parts of said pusher member being yieldingly connected together for movement relative to each other, and a reciprocatory male die for forcing the filler substance in said female die intolthe cavities previously formed in the soap.

11. In anapparatus of the character described, the combination of a movable carrier provided with soap receiving cavities, a reciprocatory die for forming cavities in the soap in the carrier, a hopper for a filler substance, a movable bottom for said hopper mounted over a portion of said carrier and provided with a female die portion conforming in outline to said first named die, a pusher member in said hopper for forcing said filler substance into said female die, means including a yieldable drive connection for reciprocating said pusher member, and a reciprocatory male die for forcing the pressing on opposite sides of the soap cakeswhile in the carrier to impart a finish thereto, and means for pushing the finished cakes out of the cavities in the carrier.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JULIUS A. SCHWANTES.

filler substance in said female die into the cavities previously formed in the soap.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a removable carrier provided with soap receiving cavities, a reciprocatory die for forming cavities. in the soap in the carrier, a hopper for a filler substance, a movable bottbm for said hopper mounted over a portion of said carrier and provided with a female die portion conforming in outline to said first named die, a reciprocatory pusher member in said hopper for forcing said filler substance into said female die, a male die for forcing the filler substance in said female die into the cavities previously formed in the soap, and means in-,

cluding a yieldable drive connection for re ciprocating said last named male die.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rotatable cylindrical carrier provided with soap receiving cavities, a reciprocatory die for forming cavities in the soap in the carrier, a hopper for a filler substance, a movable bottom for said hopper mounted to oscillate over a portion of said carrier and provided with openings con forming to the configuration of said first named die, reciprocatory pusher member mounted in said hopper to force the filler substance into said openings, and a re-' ciprocatory die mounted outside of said hopper.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rotatable drum having soap receiving openings in its periphery, means for intermittently rotating said drum, a backing portion unlying apor- 'tion of the periphery of said drum, means for forming a cavity of the desired configuration in the soap in said openings while the drum is passing over said backing member, means for inserting a filler substance into the cavity thus formed in the soap while the drum is passing over said backing member, and 

